New York | Returnable Container Act (RCA)

The state of New York enacted its Returnable Container Act (RCA) in June of 1982, making it the third state in the country to introduce a bottle bill. The RCA has undergone a number of amendments including in 1983, 1984, 1988, 1997, and 2009.

The program is viewed as successful, with the New York Department of Environmental Conversation (DEC) stating that redemption rates have averaged at 65% and litter related to beverage containers has fallen by 70%.

What's Included?

The DEC breaks down what is covered by beverages covered, exemptions, and types of containers, including: 

Beverages Covered: carbonated soft drinks + sparkling water, carbonated energy drinks, carbonated juice (less than 100% juice), carbonated tea, soda water, beer and malt beverages, mineral water, wine products, and water.

Containers Covered: individual sealed glass, metal, aluminum, steel or plastic bottle, can or jar that are less than 1 gallon or 3.78 liters and intended for use or consumption in the state.

Exemptions: milk products, wine, liquor, spirits, hard ciders, non-carbonated tea, non-carbonated sports drinks, non-carbonated juice, non-carbonated energy drinks, beverages in drink boxes or pouches, or waters containing sugar.

What’s the Refund Value?

New York uses a flat refund value for all covered materials, which for the RCA is five cents USD.

A proposal—Bigger Better Bottle Bill—aims to raise the refund value to 10 cents USD, expand covered products, and boost handling fees. Though backed by groups like Brooklyn's Sure We Can, this proposal has been stuck in committee for four years, facing opposition from beverage industry groups over cost concerns (Bronx Times).

Impact of DRS in New York

When compared to other states with DRS, New York’s recycling rates for PET, aluminum, and glass are average, but still high compared to the US average:

New York’s PET recycling rate for 2018 of 42% is 22.96% higher than the national average (19.04%).

New York’s aluminum recycling rate for 2018 of 61% is 29.72% higher than the national average (29.72%).

New York’s glass recycling rate for 2018 of 61% is 35.14% higher than the national average (25.86%).

[data from 50 States of Recycling 2.0 by Ball Corporation & Eunomia]

Tomra claims that New York's RCA redemption rate for 2023 was 68%—the fifth highest of the 10 bottles bills in the US in 2023 / 2024.

Read more about New York’s bottle bill here. 

Read about the bottle bills in the nine other US states here.